Monday, March 30, 2009

"Van Goch! Did you hear that? She said'Van Goch'. Like an Arab she spoke."-Woody Allen Manhattan

Today marks the 156th anniversary of the birth of one Vincent Van Gogh. Strangely I've never seen any of the film versions of his life. Neither Robert Altman's Theo and Vincent (1990) nor the César lauded French biopic Van Gogh (1991). Not even the Oscar winning Lust For Life (1956) with Kirk Douglas. Have you? The only time I've seen him portrayed onscreen was by none other than Martin Scorsese in Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (1990). Kurosawa began as a painter so perhaps the affinity was born there. Dreams was my first Kurosawa and I saw it, believe it or not, in Japanese with Norwegian subtitles. Not that the language barriers mattered with such a visual film... Oh and don't freak -- I've since rectified my former Kurosawalessness.

What were we talking about? Oh, Van Gogh. I'm of the opinion that we don't have enough crazy artists any more... particularly in the movies. Which movie people do you think are crazy enough to cut off an ear?

Well, seeing that Van Gogh cut off his ear because he was a "little bit" sick mentally and also after a big art fight with Gauguin I'd say that Harvey Weinsten would do it, especially when presented with a Katana . He would put it in an envelope with the message "Guard this object carefully".

Joaquin Phoenix is crazy enough to cut off an ear, once his "rap career" has hit the skids. Wait, I guess it has to get off the skids first.

I saw Theo and Vincent when came out. I had no idea it was an Altman film, then again, I don't think I had heard of Altman in 1990. I don't remember much about it, except that it was, um, not a fun movie.

That line from Manhattan always amuses me because the American tendency to pronounce it as "Van Go" is so blatantly wrong. But then, I grew up with Dutch and Afrikaans, so the guttural consonants come easily to me.

Maurice Pialat's film is absolutely gorgeous, even by my biopic-wary standards. The others I can take or leave, though Minnelli's is awfully pretty.

I could see Dakota Fanning cutting off an ear as long as it'll guarantee her an Oscar before she turns 20; that way she'll beat Marlee Matlin's record. It's such a totally evil thought but Dakota Fanning's focus freaks me out a lil' bit sometimes.

creative pics Nathaniel, i like 'em :) Dakota Fanning was just fresh in my mind because of a recent talk about youth in arts and I mentioned that a 13-yr. old got a Best Actress nomination a few years back. "Who was that, Dakota Fanning?""Pshaw! Girl wishes.", I replied.I apologize to all the Fanning lovers but I just find her acting distant and at times one-note; not a fan at all basically. But hey, hopefully she'll do the Jodie Foster route, go to college and come back stronger than before.

I do remember being impressed by Elle Fanning in "The Door in the Floor" though, I'm looking forward to her maturing work.